How New York City Got Its Juicy Nickname “The Big Apple” — And What It Means To The World

By Emeka Chiaghanam

You’re tired. Not just "I need coffee" tired, bone-deep, "why is gravity suddenly so strong?" tired. You slept. You drank water. You even did that weird desk stretch your coworker swears by. So why do you feel like you’re running on empty?

Here’s the hard truth: your food might be sabotaging you. Some meals don’t just fail to fuel you, they pick your energy’s pocket and vanish into the thin air. And the worst part? You probably eat them every single day, believing you are fueling your energy.

Let’s expose the energy thieves hiding in plain sight, and how to kick them off your plate for good. If you are ready, let's go?

1. Sugary Cereal: The Breakfast Betrayal

That cartoon-covered box promises a "nutritious start." Lies. You pour a bowl, the milk turning sickly-sweet as rainbow marshmallows dissolve. For 20 minutes, you’re a productivity god. Then, thud, your brain checks out before lunch.

Do you the reason, here’s why: sugar rush, sugar crash. Your body panics at the glucose flood, releases too much insulin, and boom, you’re a zombie by 11 AM.

Fix it: Swap for oatmeal with peanut butter and banana. Slow energy but it doesn't betray.

2. White Bread: The Comfort Trap

That sandwich seemed innocent, is it. Soft, fluffy, the perfect vehicle for turkey and mayo. But an hour later, you’re Googling "is napping at my desk illegal?"

The lure of white bread overwhelms many people. White bread is flour stripped of everything useful, just empty carbs that digest instantly. Your blood sugar spikes, then nosedives. Then your energy? Gone faster than office donuts.

Fix it: Whole grain or sourdough. Your focus will thank you.

3. Energy Drinks: The Devil’s Sparkling Water

Many enjoy this drink. The can hisses open, promising superhuman focus. And for 45 minutes? You are superhuman. Then the shakes start and then the crash. Now you’re exhausted and twitchy, drained like a phone at 1 per cent battery, frantically searching for an outlet.

These drinks are caffeine and sugar grenades. What follows, your adrenal glands scream, your heart races, and then, silence. Total system shutdown.

Fix it: Cold water with lemon. It may sound boring? Maybe. But, it's effective and absolutely healthy.

4. Fried Food: The Greasy Coma

French fries. Chicken wings. Onion rings glistening with oil. They taste like happiness, until your body starts digesting them like it’s solving a Rubik’s cube blindfolded.

All that fat and salt forces your digestive system into overdrive. The digestive system wasn't designed to overwork the system.  Do you need that, where blood rushes to your gut, abandoning your brain. Suddenly, blinking feels like cardio.

Fix it: Grilled or roasted versions. Same flavour, no narcolepsy.

5. Alcohol: The Fake Friend

You have probably heard, "One glass won’t hurt." Famous last words. Sure, wine knocks you out, but it’s cheap, stolen sleep. You wake at 3 AM, mouth like the Sahara, brain buzzing like a faulty neon sign.

Alcohol wrecks deep sleep. You might clock 8 hours, but your body acts like it pulled an all-nighter.

Fix it: Herbal tea or tart cherry juice. Sleep like a log, not a zombie.

6. Pastries: The Sugar Sirens

That croissant flakes perfectly. The donut’s glaze cracks satisfyingly under your teeth. Heaven, for exactly 12 minutes. Then the regret sets in.

Refined flour + sugar = a blood sugar rollercoaster. Up, up, up, then plummet. You’re left shaky, starving, and mad at yourself for trusting a Danish.

Fix it: Greek yogurt with honey and walnuts. Sweet, creamy, and no energy crimes.

7. Processed Meats: The Silent Killers

Bacon. Sausage. Deli turkey that never seems to expire (questionable). They’re packed with sodium and nitrates, forcing your liver into overtime.

Your body spends so much energy detoxing these, it forgets to keep you awake.

Fix it: Fresh roasted chicken or chickpeas. Protein without the punishment.

8. Artificial Sweeteners: The Wolf in Zero-Calorie Clothing

"No sugar! No calories!" Sounds perfect, until your gut bacteria stage a mutiny and your brain, confused by the fake sweetness, demands real sugar. Now you’re cranky, craving, and still tired.

Fix it: A little real honey or maple syrup. Sweetness without the lies.

9. Heavy Cream Sauces: The Delicious Doom

Fettuccine Alfredo is a warm, cheesy hug, until it becomes a weighted blanket you can’t escape. All that fat and starch slows digestion to a crawl. You don’t feel full; you feel stuffed.

Fix it: Tomato-based sauces or olive oil. Flavor without the food coma.

10. Low-Iron Diets: The Sneaky Energy Leak

Not a food, but a thief. If you’re always tired, especially if you’re vegetarian or love coffee, iron deficiency might be starving your cells of oxygen.

Fix it: Spinach, lentils, or a cast-iron skillet steak. Your energy will roar back.

The Bottom Line: Eat Like You Give a Damn

Food isn’t just calories, it’s information. Every bite tells your body, "Be lively" or "Shut down."

Next time you eat, ask: Will this lift me or drop me? Choose wisely. Your energy isn’t just about sleep or stress, it’s on your plate.